Container



E. B. DUELL July 18, 1944.

CONTAINER Filed Nov. 3, 1941 INVENTOR. E 5/7 5 Drum ir/o/wv n;

Patented July 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Edith B.Duell, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 3, 1941, Serial No. 417,619

14 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing containers and more specifically toa portable box for successively releasing bulk packed relatively smallarticles from the box while the remaining articles are retained therein.

Dispensing containers which expose and release a predetermined number ofarticles such as tablets or pills while retaining the remaining tabletsin the box have previously been constructed and have gone into commonuse. As an illustration of the type of structure above mentionedreference is made; to United States Patent 1,962,860 issued June 12,1934, on the joint application of Charles H. Duell, Edith E. Brisbane,and Douglas C. Clarke; and also to the co-pending application of CharlesH. Duell, Serial Number 320,717 filed February 24, 1940. The disclosuresof the above applications, although not limited thereto, show a boxparticularly adapted for dispensing articles packed in a single layerand in which the thickness of the box retains the articles from pilingupon each other. Such a box, if used for relatively small bulk packedarticles, will either dispense a plurality at one time or in some caseswill not operate in a. satisfactory manner for such service.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide adispensing container which will dispense bulk packed small articles oneat a time even though the container may be deeper than the thickness ofthe articles.

It is a further object to provide a dispensing container which willdispense bulk packed small articles, a desired number at a time, from acontainer in which the articles may be packed, or become arranged, oneon top of another in an irregular manner.

The above and other objects of the invention will appear mor fully fromthe following more detailed description, and by reference to theaccompanying drawing forming a part hereof and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete container, or box, having anarticle exposed for dispensing and the box cover open to allow therelease of the article.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing there is shown a container or box Ill with asliding cover H. The cover H of the box here used for illustration issecured for sliding movement by a suitable flanged construction l2 onthe box and lugs It on the cover although there are many standardmethods of accomplishing the sliding of the cover. The cover H of thebox is provided with a downwardly projecting flange or barrier M whichextends across the inside of the box and sumciently close to the bottomthereof to prevent movement of any of the articles for which the box isto be used between the lower edge of the flange and the bottom of thebox. Near one side of the box the barrier l4 merges with a filler memberl6 which extends back from the face of the flange or barrier l4 in theform of a block which extends downwardly from the inner face of thecover as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the block being preferably oftriangular or wedge shape as shown best in Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 4 there is shown another element of the barrierextending across the box, 1. e., a Wedge shaped block like projection l5somewhat similar to the member l6 and which is secured or formed insidethe box It! and extends out from the side and up from the bottom so thatwhen the box is open as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 the projection 15 fitsclosely under the block portion iii of the barrier which moves with thecover. Thus when the box is open and the flange l4 contacts a stop It,the flange l4, block l6, and projection 15 cooperate to form aneffective division or complete barrier across the box for retainingarticles in the covered portion thereof. While the upper block l6extends to the end of the cover to merge with the flange or barrier Mwhich depends downwardly from said end, the block I5, as will be notedfrom an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, terminates short ofand is spaced from the adjacent end wall of the bottom portion of thebox. The block 5 instead of being strictly speaking wedge shaped, hasits inner face of curved configuration as most clearly shown in Fig. 3.

When the top H of the box is in closed position with the flange Id incontact with the front end of the box adjacent the lower block l5, anyof the articles within the box may move forward, that is, towards theright in Figs. 2 or 3 of the drawing to lie in contacting engagementwith the flange M. At this time, however, the top block member has movedforwardly with the cover, thus leaving a corner space 17 between theunderside of the block l6 and the bottom of the box of suflicient sizeto accommodate but a single article of the size and type for which thebox is designed, the curved inner side wall of the block I5 permittingone of the articles, or tablets, to

pass into the corner space between the right hand edge of the block Iand the right hand end of the box.

Due to the curved configuration of the side wall of the block I5 andalso to the wedge shape of the block 06, all of the articles containedin the box are moved back freely without cutting, jamming or crushingthem. In this respect the box of the present invention differs markedlyfrom that shown in the aforesaid United States Patent No. 1,962,860.which disclosed in one modification a wedge shaped block, or projection,which terminated at its inner end towards the center of the box in asharp knife-like edge while the top, or cover, of the box in the formshown in said patent, was a simple depending flange that extendedlongitudinally of the box. The result was that with a construction suchas shown in the said patent, tablets, or other articles were caughtbetween these sharp knife-like edges and completely destroyed.

Obviously the box may be designed to dispense any desired number ofarticles at one time by changing the size or position of the parts toallow more than one article to be retained in corner I1 on the movementof the cover.

The lower block l5, as heretofore pointed out, being positioned toextend down from the side and up from the bottom of the box to providethe corner I! and the side wall of the block I5 being of curvedconfiguration as shown in Fig. 3, any articles contained within the boxhave a more or less natural flow around the curved side of the block l5into the corner I1; the upper wedge shaped block l6 being locatedimmediately above the block if: cooperates with the latter to define thecorner I! of precisely the shape desired. When, however, the cover ismoved rearwardly to permit an article that has been located in thecorner H to be dispensed from the box, the Wedge shape of the upperblock l6 and the fact that it extends rearwardly from the flange I4somewhat beyond the rearward or left hand end of the block I5, insuresthat any articles which might otherwise tend to pile up behind theflange M are shoved around the curved side wall of the lower block l5and crushing of the articles and likewise jamming of the cover is veryeffectually prevented. As will be seen by referring to Fig. 3, the upperblock I6 is of such length that when the flange I4 is against the righthand end of the box, the rear end of the wedge I5 terminates short ofthe rear curved end of the lower block l5. Due to this fact, and alsodue to the inclined inner face of the upper wedge block I6, any articlesthat might otherwise have had a tendency to jam into the corner space Hare pushed sidewise and rearwardly without any crushing or jammingaction taking place.

Although for purposes of illustration I have described my invention byreference to an actual embodiment, there are obvious modifications whichcan be made and still maintain the fundamental features which render thedevice operable in the substantial manner described. I therefore do notdesire to limit myself by the specific structure disclosed but rather bythe scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container for small articles of the type employing a,sliding cover with a projecting flange near one edge of said covercooperating with a projection in the box spaced from one end to push allbut a determined number of articles into a closed portion and leavingonly said determined number in the said space between said projectionand the end of the container, characterized by a block member carried bysaid cover positioned above said projection of a size to cover the spacebetween said projection and the end of the container when said cover isin closed position, thereby limiting the number of articles retained inthe space between said projection and the end of the box.

2. In a container of the character described wherein articles to bedispensed are retained in a corner of said container between a fixedprojection and the end of the box to be left in an open portion of thebox when a barrier is used to move other articles into a covered portionof said container, characterized by a portion of said barrier carried bysaid cover having a cut out portion to clear said projection and havinga block portion extending backwardly from said out out portion adistance as great as the distance from said fixed projection to the endof said box and over said projection and cooperating with saidprojection when said cover is moved to open position to leave only sucharticles in the open portion of said container as were originallyretained below said block and in front of said projection when saidcover was in closed position.

3. A container of the type having a sliding cover adapted when in openposition to uncover a portion of said container and said cover havingbarrier means projecting within said container and extendingtransversely thereof to prevent material contained in said containerwhen said cover is in said open position from moving from the covered tothe uncovered portion of said container, characterized by said containerbeing provided in addition to said barrier means with a projectionextending upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from a side thereof andspaced from one end of said container, the top of said projection beingspaced below said cover and said cover being provided with a cooperatingprojection located immediately above said first named projection but inclosely spaced relationship therewith and cooperating with said firstnamed projection and with the adjacent end and side walls of saidcontainer to define a corner space when said cover is in closed positionin which corner space a predetermined measured quantity of said materialis adapted to move for dispensing purposes, and both of said projectionscooperating when said cover is moved to open position to move into thecovered portion of the container all but such predetermined measuredquantity of said material.

4. A container of the type having a sliding cover adapted when in openposition to uncover a portion of said container and said cover havingbarrier means projecting within said container and extendingtransversely thereof to prevent material contained in said containerwhen said cover is in said open position from moving from the covered tothe uncovered portion of said container, characterized by said containerbeing provided in addition to said barrier means with a projectionextending upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from a side thereof andspaced from one end of said container, the top of said projection beingspaced below said cover and said cover being provided with a cooperatingprojection located immediately above said first named projection but inclosely spaced relationship therewith and cooperating with said firstnamed projection and with the adjacent end and side walls of saidcontainer to define a corner space when said cover is in closed positionin which corner space a predetermined measured quantity of said materialis adapted to move for dispensing purposes, and both of said projectionscooperating when said cover is moved to open position to move into thecovered portion of the container all but such predetermined measuredquantity of said material, and the inner side wall of said first namedprojection being curved on its front and rear sides to assist free flowof said material about said projections.

5. A container of the type having a sliding cover adapted when in openposition to uncover a portion of said container and said cover having abarrier means projecting within said container and extendingtransversely thereof to prevent material contained in said containerwhen said cover is in said open position from moving from the covered tothe uncovered portion of said container, characterized by said containerbeing provided with a projection extending upwardly from the bottom andinwardly from a side thereof and spaced from one end of said container,the top of said projection being spaced below said cover and said coverbeing provided with a cooperating projection located immediately abovesaid first named projection but in closely spaced relationship therewithand cooperating with said first named projection and with the adjacentend and side walls of said container to define a corner space when saidcover is in closed position in which corner space a predeterminedmeasured quantity of said material is adapted to move for dispensingpurposes, and both of said projections cooperating when said cover ismoved to open position to move into the covered portion of the containerall but such predetermined measured quantity of said material and theinner side wall of said first named projection being curved on its frontand rear sides to assist free flow of said material about saidprojections and said second projection merging with said barrier meansand extending rearwardly thereof into said container and having itsinner side face inclined to the side edges of the cover whereby saidinclined face will engage material contained within the container andpush it sidewardly and rearwardly when said cover is moved from closedto opened position.

6. In a container, a projection inside said container, extendingupwardly from the bottom, inwardly from a side and spaced from one endof said container, a sliding cover adapted to open with an edge thereofmovable to an open position in substantial alignment with saidprojection, a barrier member extending downwardly from said edge towardthe bottom of said container and having a notched out portion to clearsaid projection, a block member secured to said cover extending back ofsaid barrier member and above said notched out portion over saidprojection and cooperating with the latter to define a materialretaining pocket when said cover is in closed position in which pocketmaterial will remain as said cover is moved from closed to open positionwhile other material is moved into and retained in the covered portionof said container by the divider formed by said barrier, said projectionand said block.

'7. A container such as set forth in claim 6 in which the block memberis of substantially wedge shape in plan view with the edge of the wedgeextending back from the barrier member.

8. A dispenser, comprising a shallow box having a projection on theinside thereof extending upwardly partway of its height from the bottomand inwardly from a side and spaced from one end of said box, a slidingcover mounted upon said box adapted to be moved from a closed positionto an open position with a transverse edge thereof in substantialalignment with said projection; a transverse flange carried by saidcover extending across said box and downwardly from said edge toward thebottom of said box, said flange being notched at one lower cornerthereof to clear said projection, a depending member on the inner sideof said cover extending rearwardly from said flange having a lowersurface in a plane above said notch and said projection, said membercooperating with said projection to define a material dispensing pocketbetween said one end of said box, said projection, the bottom of saidbox and said member when said cover is in closed position and in whichmaterial will remain as said cover is moved from closed to openposition, and means for limiting the sliding movement of said cover toits open position to an extent just suflicient to uncover saiddispensing pocket.

9. A dispenser comprising, a shallow box having a projection on theinside thereof extending upwardly partway of its height from the bottomand inwardly from a side and spaced from one end of said box, a slidingcover mounted upon said box adapted to be moved from a closed positionto an open position with a transverse edge thereof in substantialalignment with said projection, a transverse flange carried by saidcover extending downwardly from said edge toward the bottom of saidcontainer, said flange being arranged to clear said projection, adepending member on the inner side of said cover at one end of saidflange having a lower surface lying in a plane above said projection andcooperating with said projection to define a material dispensing pocketbetween said one end of said box and said projection when said cover isin closed position and in which pocket material will remain as saidcover is moved from closed to open position, and means for limiting thesliding movement of said cover to its open position to an extent justsufficient to uncover said dispensing pocket.

10. A dispenser as defined in claim 9, in which the means for limitingthe sliding movement of the cover to open position comprises a lug onthe wall of the box opposite the projection, adapted go be engaged bythe flange on said cover mem- 11. A dispenser such as set forth in claim9, in which the depending member is at least of a length suiiicient tobridge the material dispensing pocket when the cover is in closedposition.

12. A dispensing container for small substantially uniform disc-likearticles, comprising a shallow box adapted to receive said smalldisclike articles therein in indiscriminate relation, said box having aprojection extending from a side wall and spaced from an end wall ofsaid box to provide a. material dispensing pocket between said one endwall and said projection when said box is closed, said projection beingof a height slightly greater than the thickness of one of said disc-likearticles, a cover slidably mounted upon said box, and means carried bysaid cover including a depending flange and projecting means bothcooperating with said projection when said cover is closed to form abarrier which prevents said articles from entering said pocket exceptwhen flatwise and, when said cover is moved to its open position,retaining a predetermined number of articles in said dispensing pocket,dependin upon the extent to which said projection extends inwardly fromsaid side wall.

13. A dispensing container for small substantially uniform disc-likearticles comprising, a shallow substantially rectangular box adapted toreceive said small disc-like articles therein in indiscriminaterelation, said box having a projection extending inwardly from a sideWall and upwardly from the bottom wall and spaced from an end wall ofsaid box to provide a material dispensing pocket between said one endwall and said projection adapted to receive at least one of saidarticles therein flatwise, a cover slidably mounted upon said box, saidcover having at the edge thereof adjacent said one end wall of said boxa transverse flange depending into said box and terminating close to thebottom thereof, and the end of said flange member adjacent said sidewall terminating in spaced relation to said projection to clear saidprojection and being adapted to be moved into transverse alignment withsaid projection, when said cover is moved from closed to opened positionsaid projection being of a height slightly greater than the thickness ofone of said disc-like articles, and an elongated filler block dependingfrom said cover at one end or said flange and having a heightsufl'icient to substantially fill the space between said cover andprojection, whereby when said cover is moved to its open position, atleast one of said articles will remain in said dispensing pocket and thearticles behind said flange will be shifted out of alignment with saiddispensing pocket upon movement of said cover to align said flange withsaid projection and expose said dispensing pocket.

14. A container for dispensing small, substantially uniform disc-likearticles which have been deposited therein in bulk comprising, a shallowbox member adapted to receive said small disclike articles therein inindiscriminate relation, 9. cover member slidabl upon said box member,pocket-forming means Within said container providing a dispensing spacelarge enough to receive only one of said articles therein flatwise, saidpocket-forming means including a flller portion secured to said coverand substantially filling the space between the upper side of saidpocket and said cover member, and a flange depending from said covermember extending across said box member arranged to allow one of saidarticles to remain in said dispensing space and to shift articles behindsaid flange out of alignment with said dispensing space when said covermember is moved to its open position.

EDITH B. DUELL.

